Walter Bagehot: “It has been thought strange, but there ARE nations in which the numerous unwiser part wishes to be ruled by the less…”

Subject to this saving remark, however, I not only admit, but maintain, that our Constitution is full of curious oddities, which are impeding and mischievous, and ought to be struck out.

The casual line was traced according to the strength of deceased combatants; succeeding generations fought elsewhere; and the hesitating line of a half-drawn battle was left to stand for a perpetual limit.

Our law very often reminds one of those outskirts of cities where you cannot for a long time tell how the streets come to wind about in so capricious and serpent-like a manner.

The lessons are good where its primitive assumptions hold, but may be false where those assumptions fail.